The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Sydney from held from Tuesday 10 to Wednesday 18 March 2015. The second stage of the hearing was held Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July 2015.

The hearing examined preventing child sexual abuse in out-of-home care and responding to allegations of child sexual abuse occurring in out-of-home care.

A consultation paper into out-of-home care was released on 8 March 2016.

The scope and purpose of the public hearing was to inquire into:

1. The incidence of child sexual abuse in contemporary out-of-home care settings.

2. Recruitment, assessment and training of carers in out-of-home care.

3. Monitoring and oversight of children in out-of-home care in the context of preventing child sexual abuse and responding to allegations of child sexual abuse.

4. Systems, policies, practices and procedures for:
   a. reporting allegations of child sexual abuse in out-of-home care;
   b. responding to allegations of child sexual abuse in out-of-home care; and
   c. supporting children who have been sexually abused in out-of-home care.

5. Any related matters.